While paper was invented, books became a media to record and transmit knowledge, information, images, memories etc. Nowadays, books and paper are commonly functional. The books selling in bookstores are in similar sizes and shapes. Portable, tidy and clear are the basic requirements. Also, there are international united sizes designed for papers, envelops and related stationeries. It is also the greatest difference between art and design while ‘design’ should help convenience people’s life. Books are more likely a tool for human life. But actually, books are also a multi-dimensional media for art-making. The exhibition in V&A Museum showed the books of different artists and reminded audience the meaning of books.
In this digital age, texts and image become intangible. They are stored ‘byte’ by ‘byte’, rather than ‘pages’ by ‘pages’. Though it provides us lots of convenience but it is not substantive enough. Tactile media is still irreplaceable. The books shown in the exhibition site showed us the ways of using books to make art pieces. The large scale book by Kiefer in the main entrance was impressive. It reminded and questioned me that it is not a must to keep books to be portable and light. If that huge book can be turned by audience, turning each page would likely be exploring and discovery of every two dimensional spaces and give audience a special experience.
Another impressive work for me is the ‘Danger Book: Suicide Firework’ by Cai Guo Qiang. His video also caught lots of audience’s attention. ‘Destructing’ is an alternate way to ‘create’. Cai used chemical to destroy the edges of the huge book and create unique and irregular edge. Also, the process he made it was a performance.
I love tactile materials. I appreciate hand-binded books and the texts and images wrote and drew by hands. All those recorded in sheets of papers are the real record of not only information but also the frame of mind of people in the moment of writing. While I read my old sketches and notebooks, I feel as if reading my past. The wore-off ink of each pen stroke as well as the old paper are the natural-formed art piece. Hope people still keep your own handwritings on paper by hands.
Fanny:)
Posted by ciltour08 